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FORT BENNING, Ga. – The Army tested its current and future equipment and warfighting methods for the potential next war in a massive, weeks-long simulated experiment that wrapped up recently. The Unified Challenge 19.2 experiment in August involved more than 400 participants working with 55 formations, 64 concepts and 150 capabilities, said Col. Mark Bailey, chief of the Army's Futures and Concepts Center's Joint Army Experimentation Division. The exercise ran Aug. 5-23. The simulation allowed Army leaders to “understand some of the complex patterns” that come out of the very complex systems that the United States and its adversaries are using, or developing to use, in future scenarios, Bailey told reporters this week. Much of what was tested couldn't be done in the real world because it hasn't been invented yet. For example, the Army's priorities in the Cross Functional Teams, from Future Vertical Lift to the Next Generation Combat Vehicle, are years away from fielding their platforms to the force, but through mathematical models and algorithms, researchers can plug in the day and play out a very detailed set of events. And the scope of the experiment dove deeper than what a typical tabletop exercise or wargaming scenario might. It allowed experimenters to see down to the small unit level and all the way up to the division and corps level what would likely play out if those formations collided with a near-peer competitor on foreign turf in a battle for territory. Chris Willis, the chief of the Maneuver Battle Lab's Model and Simulations Branch, said that for the first time, experimenters were able to use “nonlethal effects” in a simulation — electronic jamming, cyber-attacks and other methods — to support maneuver warfighting. That helped them gather data on concepts that Army leaders have been considering and theorizing about for years. But the multi-domain operations tools that were used in simulation were not being flung about the simulated battle space by random privates. Currently, the experiments look at having commanders below the brigade level aware of what MDO tools are at their disposal and how to get access to them when needed from higher echelons, which would likely house them. “The brigade would get access to some effects but those wouldn't rest inside of the brigade proper,” said Col. Chris Cassibry, director of the Maneuver Capabilities Development and Integration Directorate's Concepts Development Division. Cassibry emphasized that at this stage it's more important for the brigade commander to understand what's happening across the battlefield and use those effects to execute maneuver. For instance, the idea is that by enabling space and cyber assets, ground forces can have more freedom to maneuver. That was assumed to be the case but the complex simulation has put some data behind the concept for researchers to now analyze. A lot of what presented challenges that will consume commanders of the future was creating “windows of domain superiority,” Bailey said. Converging effects The basic plan is to converge effects, fires or non-kinetic or other types, which create that window. Commanders can plan for that and they do. But to do that at the speed that leaders believe MDO will unfold presents a whole other set of challenges. “Things happen so fast you must have this flexibility to do that in a moment's notice so that when you identify a target on a battlefield and don't have the artillery tube in range you have to quickly identify what else you have in range to hit that target,” Bailey said. And also, to understand that even if you switch “guns” quickly enough to another asset, drone, missile, electronic warfare, that means the new tool you've chosen will now not be used on another quickly emerging target or threat. That's where artificial intelligence must fill the gap, by offering up those menus of options for commanders and identifying the targets so that the human can then fire. Unified Challenge is a twice a year event; this was the second. Though it provides a lot of data, it's not something easily replicable. That means that in the near term, smaller experiments will unfold using some of the lessons learned from the larger experiment, further refining concepts and next steps on many of the ways in which the Army goes after MDO. The next step will be for the Futures and Concepts Center to compile a report of lessons learned and recommendations moving forward with some of the platforms, capabilities and doctrine. That will be delivered to the center director in the coming months, and once approved, spread across the Army to inform smaller scale experiments with portions of the larger effort to develop MDO doctrine and materiel, Bailey said. https://www.armytimes.com/news/your-army/2019/09/12/massive-simulation-shows-the-need-for-speed-in-multi-domain-ops

By Jared Keller Fresh off a fraught decade-long rewinging effort, the Air Force's beloved A-10 Thunderbolt II fleet is poised to keep on BRRRTing in the free world for at least another decade — and the beloved attack aircraft will pick up some tasty new upgrades along the way. Personnel at Air Combat Command are currently working to integrate the GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb (SDB I) on all A-10 airframes as part of the Common Fleet Initiative (CFI) that, initiated in August 2018, is designed to bring the decades-old fleet "back to a common baseline" for ongoing operations. "GBU-39 munitions have proven to be highly-desired weapons in ongoing conflicts, and the addition of this weapon to the A-10's arsenal will greatly improve the flexibility of ground commanders," Alexi Worley, an ACC spokesman, told Task & Purpose. "Adding the GBU-39 will continue efforts to keep the A-10 relevant in ongoing and future conflicts, where versatility in weaponeering is critical to meeting ground commander needs." Military aviation magazine Combat Aircraft first reported news of the SDB integration on Sept. 5, noting that a new "multi-target engagement capability" will make the A-10 "theoretically ... able to target 18 weapons individually" while hauling four SDBs on a single hardpoint. https://taskandpurpose.com/air-force-a10-warthog-upgrades

By: Andrew Chuter LONDON — Britain's defense secretary has fired the starting gun on an industry competition to manage the ground station element of the £6 billion Skynet 6 communications satellite program. “I can announce the launch of a new competition for an industry partner to operate and manage the ground stations, infrastructure and technology involved in this [Skynet 6] program,” Secretary of State for Defence Ben Wallace said in a speech at the DSEI defense exhibition in London Wednesday. The invitation to industry players could see incumbent ground service provider Airbus lose the contract after more than 15 years operating ground stations and satellites in the Skynet 5 private finance initiative deal with the British Ministry of Defence. The ground station service deal with Airbus comes to an end in 2022. Earlier MoD briefings to industry said they envisioned a contract award to the winning bidder around August next year. Julian Knight, head of networks at the MoD's Information Systems and Services organization said the government was about to enter a vital phase of the program. “We are seeking an innovative partner that will ensure effective and consistent defense satellite communications and will look to continually maximize performance and value for money,” he said. “The successful bidder will also negotiate the MoD's access to commercial satellite services, as well as managing the U.K.'s contribution and access to systems owned and operated by the U.K.'s allies,” said Knight. Ken Peterman, president of government systems at Viasat, said he was pleased at the references to commercial capabilities being adopted as part of the program. “ We are very encouraged by today's Skynet 6 announcement as it further demonstrates the value of commercial satellite trajectories and the need for an ecosystem that will allow war fighters to use both commercial and MoD purpose-built capabilities as one seamless enterprise.” It's not clear whether the British intend to use the Skynet 6 ground stations for non-communications satellite applications in the intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance sector. Airbus wasted no time officially declaring it would be bidding for what's known as the service delivery element of the Skynet 6 program, and rivals are expected to follow suit in the next few weeks. “Airbus has an outstanding track record of being the pioneer of secure mil satcoms within a commercial framework....We look forward to offering the MoD a modernized and enhanced service with Skynet 6,” said the European-based company in a statement. Inmarsat, Viasat, Serco, Lockheed Martin UK and others are also expected to submit bids either leading or partnering in competing consortia. A spokeswoman for Lockheed Martin U Kconfirmed the company is “interested in participating” in the service delivery competition. The service delivery element of the program is the first part of a wider Skynet 6 program also planned to include a raft of capabilities to provide next generation non-line of sight communications. The competition for that element, known as enduring capability, is expected to get underway with an invitation to tender in the first quarter of 2020. Some of the same companies interested in the ground station portion of the deal will be pitching for the future capability requirement. Airbus is the main satellite player here but Lockheed Martin has been ramping up its U.K. space credentials and others like Viasat are also rapidly expanding their presence. Airbus, the European space leader, has already secured a contract with the British to provide a new satellite known as Skynet 6A for capabilities to supplement the four Skynet 5 satellites currently in operation. Airbus was selected for 6A without a competition over a year ago, but the deal has yet to be signed. A spokesman for Airbus in the U.K. confirmed the satellite contract had not been sealed but said he was optimistic the deal would be completed by the end of the year. The in service date for the satellite is targeted for mid2025. Beefing up space capabilities has become a top priority for the British and the threat posed by rival nations was referenced by service chiefs speaking at the DSEI show. Wallace referenced it as well. “Today we're having to deal with increasing threats to satellite-based navigation and the need for robust communications has never been more vital," he said. “That's why we're developing Skynet 6, which will give our forces unparalleled capacity to talk to each other in any hostile environment.” The British announced earlier this year they are collaborating with the U.S. on a project known as Artemis, aimed at researching the military potential of launching a constellation of small satellites. The goal is to launch a demonstrator vehicle within 12 months. Small satellite development is pretty much dominated by the British, primarily through the Airbus owned Surrey Satellites Technology. The British are also the first international partner to formally sign up for a little talked about U.S.-led coalition effort called Operation Olympic Defender, aimed at strengthening allies' ability to deter hostile actions by nations like Russia and China. Despite the new urgency to build a space capability, the British have still not published their long awaited space defense strategy detailing how the military intends to develop its space thinking in the decade ahead. Air Chief Marshal Mike Wigston, who recently took over as the chief of the air staff, declined to say when the document might surface or why its publication has been delayed for more than a year. Industry executives though were more forthcoming. One executive, who asked not to be named, said one of the principal reasons for the delay was the haggling between Joint Forces Command and the Royal Air Force over who would end up controlling Britain's military space activities. https://www.c4isrnet.com/c2-comms/satellites/2019/09/11/britain-kicks-off-competition-to-manage-ground-stations-for-next-skynet-satellite-program/

London September 11, 2019 - The UK Ministry of Defence has contracted Leonardo and Thales, under a single source procurement, to deliver an integrated UK Defensive Aids System (DAS). The procurement will equip the RAF's fleet of eight Shadow R1 intelligence-gathering aircraft, providing an advanced DAS which will protect the aircraft against latest-generation of Infra-Red (heat seeking) missiles. Designed, developed and manufactured in the UK, the system provides a sovereign capability which will be able to evolve in anticipation of changing threats to air platforms. The contract will be delivered by a combined MOD/Leonardo/Thales team under a Leonardo prime systems integration contract, with the equipment being integrated onto the platform by Raytheon UK. Initial Operating Capability is targeted for early 2021. The system consists of the following subsystems: Thales “Elix-IR” Threat Warner Leonardo DAS Controller Leonardo “Miysis” Directed Infra-Red Counter Measure (DIRCM) Thales “Vicon” Countermeasures Dispensing System The single source selection by the MOD follows the recent SALT III international trials hosted by the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration in Sweden. There, the integrated Miysis/Elix-IR system, using a jamming waveform developed by the UK MOD's Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, proved its ability to defeat Infra-Red missiles in live fire exercises. How the system works: The integrated DAS brings together world-class capabilities in threat warning, self-protection co-ordination, countermeasures dispensing and in DIRCM. At the heart of the system, the DAS Controller is able to assess multiple threats to the aircraft and prioritise the appropriate response using the Countermeasure Dispensing System (CMDS) and Miysis DIRCM. Elix-IR is constantly on the lookout for missile and gunfire threats, providing long range, rapid and accurately-located alerts when they occur. The dual-head fit of the Miysis DIRCM provides 360 degree protection and the ability to defeat multiple threats simultaneously by accurately directing a jamming laser onto the missile's seeker, confusing its guidance system and steering the missile away from the aircraft. The integrated and optimised threat-warning/threat-defeat chain ensures that sequential incoming missiles are thwarted quickly and effectively. Shadow: The RAF's fleet of Shadow aircraft, which are based on the King Air 350CER, are operated by 14 Squadron out of RAF Waddington. Because of the ISR role of the aircraft, it may be required to fly through hostile airspace, necessitating protection from enemy forces. A particularly deadly and prevalent threat are heat-seeking, Man-Portable Air-Defence Systems (MANPADS), which are widely employed around the world. The Shadow's new defensive aids suite will effectively counter this threat, being able to rapidly defeat incoming missiles. About Leonardo Leonardo, a global high-technology company, is among the top ten world players in Aerospace, Defence and Security and Italy's main industrial company. Organized into five business divisions, Leonardo has a significant industrial presence in Italy, the United Kingdom, Poland and the USA, where it also operates through subsidiaries such as Leonardo DRS (defense electronics), and joint ventures and partnerships: ATR, MBDA, Telespazio, Thales Alenia Space and Avio. Leonardo competes in the most important international markets by leveraging its areas of technological and product leadership (Helicopters, Aircraft, Aerostructures, Electronics, Cyber Security and Space). Listed on the Milan Stock Exchange (LDO), in 2018 Leonardo recorded consolidated revenues of €12.2 billion and invested €1.4 billion in Research and Development. The Group has been part of the Dow Jones Sustainability Index since 2010.http://www.leonardocompany.com >For the RAF Shadow, Leonardo will draw on its experience providing protective systems for the UK's Eurofighter Typhoon and AW159 Wildcat, AW101 Merlin, Puma and Chinook helicopter fleets. The Company was also contracted in April to provide a UK sovereign defensive aids suite for the British Army's new fleet of Apache AH-64E helicopters. >While being smaller, lighter and drawing less power than other DIRCM systems on the market, the Miysis DIRCM still offers the full spherical coverage required to counter advanced threats. Its Laser Pointer Tracker offers sophisticated tracking to counter long range threats and exceptional response speed to counter short range threats. A multi-band IRCM can defeat even advanced threats. Miysis has been selected by customers in Canada and the Middle East. Contact: Leonardo Press Office pressoffice@leonardocompany.com +39 0632473313 About Thales Thales is a global technology leader for the Aerospace, Transport, Defence and Security markets. With 62,000 employees in 56 countries, Thales reported sales of €14 billion in 2016. With over 22,000 engineers and researchers, Thales has a unique capability to design and deploy equipment, systems and services to meet the most complex security requirements. Its exceptional international footprint allows it to work closely with its customers all over the world. https://www.thalesgroup.com > Elix-IRTM is a passive multi-function Threat Warning System that uses single wide spectrum colour Infra-Red sensing technology to deliver simultaneous and unimpeded Missile Approach Warning, Hostile Fire Indication and Situational Awareness from a single sensor system to increase overall platform survivability and help to mitigate the ‘Risk to Life'. Elix-IRTM is an ITAR free UK sovereign capability, developed in collaboration with the UK MOD that ensures Freedom of Action that assures a rapid and timely response to countering evolving threats and supporting new theatres of operation. Designed from the outset to provide the capabilities required to support a DIRCM and output data in support of off-board countermeasures, such as Smart Stores, it enables greater exploitation and utilisation of platform capabilities that support broader operational employment and increased mission success rates. Contact Thales Media Relations – Justine Degez, Media Relations – Land and Naval Defence justine.degez@thalesgroup.com +33 6 89 34 53 09 https://www.epicos.com/article/481146/uk-ministry-defence-orders-leonardothales-protection-system-raf-shadow-istar-fleet

Bradley Perrett Japan has flight-tested an integrated suite of sensors for its next fighter, creating a single system from a gallium-nitride (GaN) radar, a passive radio-frequency (RF) sensor and an infrared camera. So far, results look good, the defense ministry says. The developmental system is the product of a 10-year effort aimed at overcoming the difficulty of detecting stealthy targets. More details on : https://aviationweek.com/defense/sensors-future-fighter-take-air

Lee Hudson and Steve Trimble Lockheed Martin intends to migrate its F-35 digital support backbone, the Autonomic Logistics Information System (ALIS), to a native-cloud architecture by year's end and field it in 2020. A joint government and industry team tested an early version of the new framework in both lab and flight test environments in May, company spokesman Mike Friedman said in a Sept. 11 statement to Aerospace DAILY. “By moving all ALIS applications to a cloud-native, open architecture, we can rapidly develop and test pieces of ALIS without having to load the entire system for each upgrade,” he said. “And instead of aggregating many fixes over a 12- to 18-month period into a single upgrade, the new approach allows developers to create, test, receive feedback and implement fixes every few weeks while reducing development and fielding costs.” The new construct still must be tested in an operational environment so that developers can garner user feedback to refine their approach. Separately, the newest ALIS software release, 3.1.1, is saving pilots an average of 35 min. in report generation and review. The new software release also is saving maintainers 40 min. each day in report generation and several hours weekly in managing fleet directive reports, he added. “This latest release leverages the development work Lockheed Martin completed in 2018 with its internal investment funding,” Friedman said. “In 2018, Lockheed Martin invested approximately $50 million in ALIS and will continue investing approximately $180 million through 2021 to modernize ALIS and enhance enterprise sustainment systems.” Extrapolated across the enterprise of more than 425 aircraft flying today, it will save more than 20,000 manhours annually. Lockheed Martin has invested in additional time saving and efficiency ALIS automations and is working with the government on implementation and fielding plans, Friedman said. https://aviationweek.com/defense/lockheed-migrate-f-35-backbone-cloud-architecture

Marinvent has announced the successful delivery of its Synthesis compliance tools to the Government of Canada for testing under Innovative Solutions Canada (formerly the Build in Canada Innovation Program (BCIP)). Marinvent's “Synthesis” is a powerful, purpose-built, simple-to-use, Oracle web-based software tool for planning, optimization and management of complex programs that require the definition, collection and documentation of compliance artefacts against rigorous, externally-governed, processes and standards. Synthesis saves customers enormous amounts of time and money on certification programs, provides a real framework for re-use and provides management with an ideal tool to help integrate the supply chain and manage program risk. Synthesis ensures the completeness of compliance programs and provides real time visibility into the current status of such efforts, to minimize risk and add management oversight. Synthesis removes inconsistencies in certification documentation and forges unbreakable links between test standards and test results to ensure complete traceability, including on all modifications made to its database, without adding to the user's workload. “The BCIP program is fundamental to Marinvent's launch of Synthesis”, said Alistair Chapman, director, Marketing at Marinvent. “The Aerospace Engineering Test Establishment (AETE) is an ideal launch customer for Synthesis, and BCIP is one of the most relevant and important government programs out there for us.” Synthesis also links the governing requirements and corresponding test results at every level and does not allow test results to be detached from the governing requirements that they are linked to, nor does it allow the creation of unattached items. This means that every requirement has an unbreakable connection to all applicable supporting documents, corresponding test results, and, finally, to the acceptance records required by certification/airworthiness authorities. “We believe the benefits that we will demonstrate to AETE will have equal applicability to other parts of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF),” said Dr. John Maris, president at Marinvent. https://www.skiesmag.com/press-releases/marinvent-delivers-4-0-enabled-synthesis-compliance-tool-to-government-of-canada

NAVY Black Construction-Tutor Perini JV, Harmon, Guam (N62742-19-D-1328); Caddell-Nan JV, Montgomery, Alabama (N62742-19-D-1329); Core Tech-HDCC-Kajima LLC, Tamuning, Guam (N62742-19-D-1330); Gilbane SMCC ECC LLC, Concord, California (N62742-19-D-1331); and Hensel Phelps Construction Co., Honolulu, Hawaii (N62742-19-D-1332), are awarded a combined $990,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, multiple award, design build construction contract for projects located primarily for sites in Guam and other areas within the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC), Pacific area of responsibility (AOR). Gilbane SMCC ECC LLC is being awarded the initial $22,997,004 task order for the design and construction of a low rise combined dining and high-intensity tactical training facility for the aviation combat element at Andersen Air Force Base, Joint Region Marianas, Guam. The work to be performed provides new construction, renovation and minor construction, and may include but is not limited to: barracks/dormitories; administrative facilities; communication facilities; educational facilities; medical/dental/hospital facilities; dining facilities; industrial facilities; warehouse facilities; ranges; operational/training facilities; roads, streets and bridges; site utilities/infrastructure; dredging, and aviation facilities (including hangars and aprons), and other base development facilities. Work for this task order is expected to be completed by April 2022. All work on this contract will be performed primarily within the NAVFAC Pacific AOR, which includes Guam (80%); Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (10%); Hawaii (5%); and other areas in the Pacific and Indian Oceans (5%). The term of the contract is not to exceed 60 months with an expected completion September 2024. Fiscal 2015 and 2019 military construction (Navy) contract funds for $22,997,004 are obligated on this award, of which $13,615,340 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website, with eight proposals received. These five contractors may compete for task orders under the terms and conditions of the awarded contract. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Pacific, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, is the contracting activity. Walsh Federal LLC, Chicago, Illinois, is awarded a $49,845,000 firm-fixed-price contract for the construction of P426 Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Logistics Facility at Naval Station Mayport. The work to be performed provides for construction of a new four story, Phase II building, and renovations to the existing Phase I building. The two buildings will house the ashore component of administrative functions for deployed and in-port LCSs, as well as a portion of the training component. The project also includes improvements to Bailey Avenue that will connect P426 to a new parking deck to be designed and constructed under a separate contract. Work will be performed in Jacksonville, Florida, and is expected to be completed by August 2021. Fiscal 2019 military construction (Navy) contract funds for $49,845,000 are obligated on this award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website with two proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southeast, Jacksonville, Florida, is the contracting activity (N69450-19-C-0913). The Johnson-McAdams Firm P.A.,* Greenwood, Mississippi, is awarded a $30,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for professional architectural and engineering services in the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Southeast area of responsibility (AOR). A $33,339 initial task order is awarded to prepare an engineering study of Building 361, detailing required repairs to the interior non-load bearing concrete masonry unit walls at Naval Air Station Meridian, Mississippi. Work for this task order is expected to be completed January 2020. All work on this contract will be performed at various Navy and Marine Corps installations in the NAVFAC Southeast AOR. The work to be performed provides for professional architectural and engineering services for preparation of design-bid-build documents (100% plans and specifications) and design-build request for proposals. Services may also include field investigation and facility damage assessments after hurricanes or other storm events. Specific duties include architectural programming, geotechnical investigation, surveying, cost estimating, DD Form 1391 preparation and other preliminary project documentation. The term of the contract is not to exceed 60 months with an expected completion August 2024. Fiscal 2019 operation and maintenance, (Navy) (O&M, N) contract funds for $33,339 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Future task orders will be primarily funded by O&M, N; and military construction, (Navy). This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website with 26 proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southeast, Jacksonville, Florida, is the contracting activity (N69450-19-D-0123). Sroka Inc.,* Strongsville, Ohio, is awarded a $22,944,161 five-year, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the manufacture of 4,500 counterbalance stand-up rider forklift trucks in support of the Material Handling Equipment (MHE) Program. Work will be performed in Strongsville, Ohio, and is expected to be completed by September 2024. Fiscal 2019 MHE procurement funds (Navy) will be obligated as each delivery order is issued, and funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract resulted from a full and open competitive solicitation, with one offer received. Naval Supply Systems Command Weapon Systems Support, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity (N00104-19-D-UN01). Vigor Marine LLC, Portland, Oregon, is awarded a $17,635,905 firm-fixed-price contract for a 63-calendar day shipyard availability for the regular overhaul dry-docking of USNS Henry J. Kaiser (T-AO 202). The $17,635,905 contract consists of the amounts listed in the following areas: category "A" work item cost, additional government requirement, other direct costs and general and administrative costs. Work will include general services, ballast tank recoating, ballast tank preservation, ship service diesel generator maintenance, deck covering replacement, docking and undocking, underwater hull and freeboard cleaning and preservation, stern shaft and propeller repair and sliding block chain replacement. The contract includes options, which if exercised, would bring the total contract value to $19,206,905. Funds will be obligated Sept. 12, 2019, and work is expected to be completed by Dec. 23, 2019. Contract funds for $17,635,240 excluding options, are obligated for fiscal 2020 using Navy working capital funds. Work will be performed in Portland, Oregon, and is expected to begin Oct. 22, 2019. This contract was competitively procured with proposals solicited via the Federal Business Opportunities website, and one offer was received. The Navy's Military Sealift Command, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N32205-19-C-4016). The Boeing Co., Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, is awarded a $15,111,310 firm-fixed-price delivery order (N00019-19-F-0301) against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N00019-16-G-0001). This order is for non-recurring engineering for integration of the AN/AAQ-24 Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures System onto one C-40A aircraft for the Navy. Work will be performed in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (40%); Seattle, Washington (35%); and San Antonio, Texas (25%), and is expected to be completed in December 2021. Fiscal 2017 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds for $15,111,310 are being obligated on this award, all of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Lockheed Martin Corp. Rotary and Mission Systems, Moorestown, New Jersey, is awarded a $12,920,955 cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to previously awarded contract N64267-18-C-0132 for Aegis design agent field engineering services. Work will be performed in Norfolk, Virginia (34%); San Diego, California (31%); Yokosuka, Japan (19%); Pascagoula, Mississippi (4%); Washington, District of Columbia (4%); Port Hueneme, California (4%); and Rota, Spain (4%), and is expected to be completed by September 2020. Fiscal 2019 operation and maintenance (Navy) funding in the amount of $1,042,000; and fiscal 2019 other procurement (Navy) funding for $40,000 will be obligated at time of award, and funds for $1,042,000 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. In accordance with 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1), this contract was non-competitively procured (only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements). The services include test and evaluation, engineering change development, ordnance/ship alterations, modernization engineering, logistics and technical support, ordnance alterations kit development, integration and test support, AN/SPY-1 series radar antenna refurbishment and Coast Guard deep-water program design agent field engineering support. These services are in support of Aegis-equipped CGs and DDGs, allied Aegis-equipped ships and Coast Guard Aegis-configured ships. This contract includes options, which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $63,992,064. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Port Hueneme Division, Port Hueneme, California, is the contracting activity. Granite Construction Co., Watsonville, California, is awarded a $12,901,901 firm-fixed-price task order N62473-19-F-5250 under a multiple award construction contract to repair failing taxiway India at Naval Base Coronado. The task order also contains two unexercised options, which if exercised, would increase the cumulative task order value to $14,268,901. The work to be performed provides for the construction to replace the existing deteriorated concrete with new compliant airfield pavement. The options, if exercised, provides for reconstruction of taxiway, demolition, earthwork, and construction of base, pavement, shoulders, striping, associated electrical along with incidental related work, cement stabilization and replacement of waterline. Work will be performed in San Diego, California, and is expected to be completed by December 2020. Fiscal 2019 operation and maintenance, (Navy) contract funds for $12,901,901 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Four proposals were received for this task order. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southwest, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity (N62473-19-D-2437). Lockheed Martin, Mission Systems and Training, Baltimore, Maryland, is awarded a $10,948,268 cost-plus fixed-fee/award-fee order, N62786-19-F-0068, against the previously awarded basic ordering agreement N00024-15-G-2303, to provide advance planning, accomplishment and emergent availabilities for LCS-17 post shakedown availability. Lockheed Martin will provide advance planning and accomplishment of work for emergent availabilities and post-delivery test and trial support. Work will be performed in Mayport, Florida (44%); Hampton, Virginia (24%); District of Columbia (18%); and Moorestown, New Jersey (14%), and is expected to be completed by March 2021. Fiscal 2019 and 2014 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funding for $9,866,326 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Conversion and Repair, Bath, Maine, is the contracting activity. BAE Systems Land and Armaments, Louisville, Kentucky, is awarded a $7,480,485 firm-fixed-price delivery order for MK38 Machine Gun System coaxial kits. Work will be performed in Louisville, Kentucky (83%); and Mesa, Arizona (17%), and is expected to be completed in December 2020. Fiscal 2019 weapons procurement (Navy); and fiscal 2019 Coast Guard weapons funding in the amount of $7,480,485 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract action will provide all of the necessary materials and services required to manufacture, assemble, inspect, preserve, package and ship Coaxial Kits to support operations and maintenance for the MK38 Machine Gun Systems used by the Navy and Coast Guard. In accordance with 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1), this delivery order was not competitively procured (only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements). The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Indian Head Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technology Division, Indian Head, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N00174-19-F-0031) KIRA Aviation Services LLC, doing business as KIRA Operations Support,* Blytheville, Arkansas, is awarded a $7,107,857 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for base operations support services at Naval Air Station Jacksonville and outlying areas. The maximum dollar value including the base period and four option years is $33,972,756. Work will be performed in Jacksonville, Florida (97%); and outlying areas (3%), and is expected to be completed by January 2021. The work to be performed provides for base operations support services to include custodial, pest control, integrated solid waste management, grounds maintenance and landscaping, and other related services. No funds will be obligated at time of award. Fiscal 2020 operation and maintenance, (Navy) (O&M, N); fiscal 2020 Navy working capital funds; fiscal 2020 Defense Health Program; and fiscal 2020 family housing O&M, N contract funds in the amount of $6,459,206 for recurring work will be obligated on individual task orders issued during the base period. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website, with three proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southeast, Jacksonville, Florida, is the contracting activity (N69450-19-D-1919). ARMY BFBC LLC, Bozeman, Montana, was awarded a $440,000,000 modification (P00005) to contract W912PL-19-C-0014 for replacement of El Centro and Yuma vehicle and pedestrian barrier. Work will be performed in El Centro, California; and Yuma, Arizona, with an estimated completion date of Jan. 5, 2021. Fiscal 2010 operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $440,000,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Albuquerque, New Mexico, is the contracting activity. Kiewit Infrastructure Co., Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey, was awarded a $264,422,000 firm-fixed-price contract for construction of physical security and safety improvements on and around long span bridges. Bids were solicited via the internet with seven received. Work will be performed in New York, New York, with an estimated completion date of May 31, 2025. Fiscal 2018 civil construction funds in the amount of $264,422,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York, New York, is the contracting activity (W912DS-19-C-0015). Raytheon Lockheed Martin Javelin JV, Tucson, Arizona, was awarded an $185,601,502 firm-fixed-price contract for the Javelin Weapon System full rate production, All Up Rounds, Command Launch Unit retrofits, battery coolant units, Javelin outdoor trainers, outdoor trainer instruction station, tripods, Javelin vehicle launcher and electronics. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed in Tucson, Arizona, with an estimated completion date of Aug. 31, 2023. Fiscal 2018 and 2019 research, development, test and evaluation; Navy procurement; Marine Corps procurement; and missile procurement, Army funds in the combined amount of $185,601,502 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity (W31P4Q-19-C-0076). Dobco Inc., Wayne, New Jersey, was awarded an $111,600,000 firm-fixed-price contract for renovation of barracks. Bids were solicited via the internet with five received. Work will be performed in West Point, New York, with an estimated completion date of Aug.30, 2021. Fiscal 2019 military construction, Army funds in the amount of $111,600,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York, New York, is the contracting activity (W912DS-19-C-0020). Stoa Architects,* Pensacola, Florida (W912DY-19-D-0023); Raymond Pond Full Service Solutions JV LLC,* Conyers, Georgia (W912DY-19-D-0024); PSC-Schenkel Shultz,* Lubbock, Texas (W912DY-19-D-0025); Rogers Lovelock & Fritz, Orlando, Florida (W912DY-19-D-0026); Michael Baker-Stanley JV, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (W912DY-19-D-0027); and the Mason & Hanger Group Inc., Lexington, Kentucky (W912DY-19-D-0028), will compete for each order of the $49,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for support for general military facility design studies and facility commissioning. Bids were solicited via the internet with 36 received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 15, 2024. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Huntsville, Alabama, is the contracting activity. Ashford Leebcor Enterprises LLC, Williamsburg, Virginia, was awarded a $28,605,776 firm-fixed-price contract for repairs to exterior walls, windows, fire protection, interior walls, doors, insulation, interior finish, finish floors, ceilings, plumbing, HVAC, HVAC controls, electrical, building information systems, site utilities, structural improvements and asbestos abatement. Bids were solicited via the internet with six received. Work will be performed in Fort Benning, Georgia, with an estimated completion date of March 15, 2019. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $28,605,776 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah, Georgia, is the contracting activity (W912HN-19-C-3011). L.J. Clark Construction Inc.,* Moore Haven, Florida, was awarded an $11,373,817 firm-fixed-price contract for Picayune Strand Restoration Project, Miller Tram and road removal. Bids were solicited via the internet with five received. Work will be performed in Naples, Florida, with an estimated completion date of Jan. 10, 2022. Fiscal 2010 civil construction funds in the amount of $11,373,817 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville, Florida, is the contracting activity (W912EP-19-C-0026). R.E. Goodson Construction Co. Inc.,* Darlington, South Carolina, was awarded an $8,622,487 firm-fixed-price contract for raising the crest elevation of the perimeter dike, clearing the interior, adding a sand cap to the existing bird island in the western portion, repairs and modifications to the five existing weir and water control structures along the western dike, clearing and grubbing and replacing the main entrance gate. Bids were solicited via the internet with six received. Work will be performed in Hardeeville, South Carolina, with an estimated completion date of Nov. 25, 2020. Fiscal 2019 civil construction, and civil rivers and harbors contributed funds in the combined amount of $8,622,487 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah, Georgia, is the contracting activity (W912HN-19-C-5010). Matrix Providers,* Denver, Colorado, was awarded a $7,586,573 firm-fixed-price contract for per diem nursing services to support. Bids were solicited via the internet with 12 received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 30, 2020. U.S. Army Health Contracting Activity, San Antonio, Texas, is the contracting activity (W81K02-16-D-0001). Senspex Inc.,* Albuquerque, New Mexico, was awarded a $7,500,000 modification (P00003) to contract W56HZV-16-D-0129 for procurement of the highly specialized long-range thermal imaging camera system spare parts, and service support. One bid was solicited with one bid received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 27, 2021. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Warren, Michigan, is the contracting activity. Raytheon Co. Missile Systems, Tucson, Arizona, was awarded a $7,493,164 modification (P00001) to contract W15QKN-19-C-0017 for foreign military sales buyback. Work will be performed in Tucson, Arizona; Healdsburg, California; Karlskoga, Sweden; East Camden, Arkansas; Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Southway, Plymouth, United Kingdom; Glenrothes, Scotland, United Kingdom; Cincinnati, Ohio; Farmington, New Mexico; McAlester, Oklahoma; Joplin, Missouri; Salt Lake City, Utah; Gilbert, Arizona; Lansdale, Pennsylvania; and Santa Ana, California, with an estimated completion date of April 29, 2022. Fiscal 2019 Foreign Military Sales funds in the amount of $7,493,164 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, New Jersey, is the contracting activity. DEFENSE INFORMATION SYSTEMS AGENCY The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory LLC (JHU/APL), Laurel, Maryland, was awarded a non-competitive, single-award, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for essential engineering, research, and/or development capabilities, in line with the core competencies established by the assistant secretary of defense for research and engineering, which designated JHU/APL as a University Affiliated Research Center (UARC). The place of performance will be at JHU/APL, Laurel, Maryland; and at the Defense Information Systems Agency, Fort Meade, Maryland. The contract ceiling value is $245,000,000, funded by multiple appropriation types. The minimum guarantee of $5,793,933 is satisfied through the issuance of the first task order in conjunction with the contract, which is funded by fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation funds. This is a sole source award, and as such, only one proposal was received. The ordering period is Sept. 30, 2019, through Sept. 29, 2024. The Defense Information Technology Contracting Organization, National Capital Region, is the contracting activity (HC1047-19-D-0001). AIR FORCE LGS Innovations LLC, Applied Research & Technology, Florham Park, New Jersey, has been awarded a $12,752,488 cost-plus-fixed-fee type contract for the SALIENT GHOST software/hardware testbed. This contract provides for the development and demonstration of a function to address the security and resilience of field programmable gate arrays. Work will be performed at Florham Park, New Jersey, and is expected to be completed by Sept. 12, 2024. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and two offers were received. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $350,000 are being obligated at time of award. The Air Force Research Laboratory, Rome, New York, is the contracting activity (FA8750-19-C-1515). X Technologies Inc., San Antonio, Texas, has been awarded a $9,515,986 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the TTU-595 test sets. This contract provides for the production of TTU-595 Laser-Guided Bomb test sets to functionally check the guidance head of Paveway II and III weapons. Work will be performed at San Antonio, Texas, and is expected to be completed by Sept. 11, 2023. This contract involves foreign military sales (FMS) to Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Egypt, Germany, Finland, France, Greece, Israel, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and United Kingdom. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and one offer was received. Fiscal 2017 ammunition procurement funds in the amount of $5,052,774; and FMS funding in the amount of $912,640 are being obligated at time of award. The Life Cycle Management Center, Hill Air Force Base, Utah, is the contracting activity (FA8213-19-D-0016). DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Bell Helicopter, Fort Worth, Texas, has been awarded a maximum $8,982,860 firm-fixed-price delivery order (SPRPA1-19-F-M21Q) against a five-year basic ordering agreement (SPRPA1-16-G-001W) for H-1 aircraft tail rotor blades. This was a sole-source acquisition using justification 10 U.S. Code 2304 (c)(1), as stated in Federal Acquisition Regulations 6.302-1. This is a five-year, two-month contract with no option periods. Location of performance is Texas, with a January 2023, performance completion date. Using military service is Navy. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2023 Navy working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. *Small Business https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/1959192/source/GovDelivery/

By: Sebastian Sprenger and Andrew Chuter LONDON – BAE Systems and Leonardo on Wednesday formalized a partnership agreement to cooperate on the Tempest next-generation combat aircraft, following a pact signed between the U.K. and Italian governments late Tuesday afternoon. The inclusion of Italy in the ambitious project marks the third partner nation, following Sweden, that the British were able to sign. And BAE officials on hand here at the DSEI defense trade show hinted that more could follow soon. Leonardo brings with it a smattering of Italian companies, including Avio Aero and Elettronica, adding to the team of MBDA and Rolls Royce already onboard. BAE Systems chief Charles Woodburn said both nations and their respective industries are “committed” to seeing Tempest through. The program is envisioned to be a sixth-generation, aerial combat system featuring manned planes, drones, sensors and weapons working in unprecedented collaboration. The two countries already work together on the American-led F-35 as well as the Eurofighter Typhoon. Advancing those programs is also an explicit objective in the new partnership between London and Rome. A statement released by the UK Ministry of Defence Wednesday morning framed the government agreement – signed by Simon Bollom, the head of Defence Equipment and Support, and Lt. Gen. Nicolò Falsaperna, Italian Secretary General of Defence – as a broad pledge to cooperate on matters of “combat air capability.” The idea is to “deepen discussions on Tempest military requirements,” come up with a “road map” for feeding advanced Eurofighter capabilities into the future program, and facilitate an industry ecosystem to make it all happen, according to the statement. “The U.K. and Italy have a proven 50-year track record of working closely together on Combat Aircraft development and support through the Panavia Tornado and Eurofighter Typhoon programs,” reads the defense ministry statement. “Both governments confirmed a common desire for a strong industrial base to develop key capabilities and boost prosperity in both nations. The agreement also paves the way for closer industrial collaboration, including through shared industrial entities such as Leonardo and MBDA.” Leonardo CEO Alessandro Profumo lauded the joint Tempest effort as an “ambitious and strategically important” program. Joining it this early in the process, he said, would allow his company greater say in future decisions. The U.K.-Italy venture comes as France, Germany and Spain are working on their own version of Europe's next-generation weapon, the Future Combat Air System. With much pomp and circumstance accorded here to the Tempest effort, including promotion under the banner of the Royal Air Force and a full-scale mockup sitting prominently in the exhibit hall, the continental counterpart appeared more of a distant theory in comparison. The FCAS program, led on the industry side by Airbus and Dassault, has been dogged by a fundamental disagreement between German and France about the exportability of its envisioned components. Berlin taking a more restrictive stance than Paris when it comes to potential buyers in the Middle East. Following Spain's recent inclusion in the program, the Madrid government has designated electronics specialist Indra as the national industry lead, a move that left the Spanish Airbus division feeling burned, according to sources. Trade show attendees here associated with the FCAS program brushed aside the notion of Tempest as the more concrete proposal, noting how Brexit would cast a shadow of uncertainty on the UK's budget, not to speak of Italy's ongoing financial troubles. At the same time, the U.K.-Italian-Swedish and the Franco-German-Spanish efforts make for formidable competition in a continent where military budgets are limited. Asked by a reporter how he sees the two programs play out over the next ten years, Profumo only stated the obvious: “Two programs are more expensive than one.” So where might the British turn next in their quest for international partners? Woodburn, the head of BAE, told Defense News that talks with other possible partners are ongoing. "We are in discussions with other nations, but what it shows is there are plenty of people who want to join the team although they may be different types of partners to the ones we have right now," he said. Leonardo U.K. boss Norman Bone said Team Tempest hadn't stopped talking to core companies but were also looking at partners who bring other benefits. “We haven't drawn the line on industrial capability but maybe there are partners who bring money and markets in exchange for technology transfer,” said Bone. Enzo Benigni, the CEO of Elettronica, said his company's participation in Tempest is a crucial milestone for the company. “It's a partnership that will last 40 or 50 years,” he told reporters. https://www.defensenews.com/digital-show-dailies/dsei/2019/09/11/british-italian-defense-companies-jump-on-tempest